Kubica to Williams Set For Abu Dhabi Announcement?

[Paul Jeffrey]

Word in the F1 paddock is that Robert Kubica has signed a deal to make a remarkable return to Formula One with Williams next season.

Some eight years on from a potentially life threatening crash that forced the Polish Canadian Grand Prix winner to step away from Formula One racing, it is thought that Robert Kubica has finally secured a popular return to racing action in the top flight, with strong rumours that Williams are set to make an announcement confirming the 33-year-old as team mate to rookie George Russell in 2019.

Having spent 2018 working behind the scenes as a Williams reserve driver, performing simulator duties and taking part in two Free Practice sessions for the Grove squad, Kubica is thought to have secured enough funding to land a drive with the squad for the new season, overtaking current team driver Sergey Sirotkin and a number of other potential candidates, even going so far as turning down a long term contract to join the Ferrari simulator team - a team with which the Pole allegedly signed a contract with to race for prior to his rally accident in 2011.

Should the deal come to fruition this weekend it will mark a remarkable comeback for Kubica, and provide a much needed boost for a struggling Williams outfit as they look to bring experience alongside the obvious speed and potential of the soon to be crowned 2018 Formula Two champion Russell.

A good news story for Kubica and Williams, 2019 just got a whole lot more interesting...

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[Piotr Dul]

Forza Kubica!

 

[garyjpaterson]

You can already watch the announcement video on F1's website - it autoplays after watching any other video. This is a mirror: https://streamable.com/w3jbg

 

[HK2014]

glad to see an "old" pilot for a change

 

[ME9Swe]

Brilliant to see him back but I think towards the middle-end of the season we'll see Russell start to out-qualify him as he gets used to the car. But hey who knows, maybe Kubica has retained the lighting pace he last had in 2010...

 

[Marc Collins]

Wish he was rejoining a more competitive team.

 

[Trebor901]

Really dont understand this move by Williams, Ocon would have been a much better choice, but to be honest this is again all about money.

Wouldnt be surprised if Russell out performs him right from the off.

 

[homecalendar]

Strange move. But they seem to be in harmony. Williams is not like it was and the Kubica is not like he was.

 

[PLBogin]

Strange move. But they seem to be in harmony. Williams is not like it was and the Kubica is not like he was.

Actually you don't know if he is not like he was. We will see this. We know that Kubica had pace just like Verstappen and Ricciardo in Red Bull simulator and was much faster than 2018 Williams' drivers.

 

[michelforest]

I have the feeling he was the teams's first choice for 2018 but they decided to wait and see how he would handle his duties as test driver. Meanwhile, they took Sirotkin because he was bringing some money, but he was just warming up Kubica's seat...

 

[Terry Rock]

YES!

 

[MPortnoy]

remarkable and Williams in the same sentence....LOL
Good for Kubica tho.

 

[homecalendar]

Actually you don't know if he is not like he was. We will see this. We know that Kubica had pace just like Verstappen and Ricciardo in Red Bull simulator and was much faster than 2018 Williams' drivers.

No miracles in this world bro. Unfortunately.

 

[ChevyGuy566]

This man’s arm was dangling by a thread one day in 2011 and now he has an F1 driver contract. Freaking amazing what the human body and spirit can do! Show ‘em who’s boss Robert!

 

[Andrew King]

that sucks, Ocon deserved it more

 

[billymitchell]

I’ll be buying some Kubica merch; his tenacity to earn another seat in F1... it’s remarkable to me.

 

[Jach]

Well done Nico Rosberg

 

[Deleted member 13397]

i think, williams learned, it is better to have one good / skilled /
experienced driver, who outperforms a former F2 driver one handed, then an Ocon who surely is fast, but not taken into account by his boss to replace Bottas

 

[manu68]

I just hope it will not turns to be one more fake.
Kubica was so quick at that time, before his horror crash.
It is a fantastic news for the formula one

 

[timson72]

Really dont understand this move by Williams, Ocon would have been a much better choice, but to be honest this is again all about money.

Wouldnt be surprised if Russell out performs him right from the off.

Because Mercedes were only willing to loan him for 1 season and Williams wanted longer.